Using fill-in flash ?

Shimmyhill · 18 Apr 2006 at 16:13

Right this could potentially be a newbie question of the highest rate !

Im about to get a 550ex flash for the ol 300D and have been messing around with the onboard flash. Trying to take pics of the ickle one on her bike - its overcast here but quite bright so i just wanted some fill-in flash mainly for catch lights.

However all im getting is blown exposures, trying to use in AV mode - in manual i can get better results but what am i doing wrong in av mode ??

Im certain i should know what im doing wrong and i know its the exposure time but i dont understand why AV mode isnt compensating for the flash - i assume im overlooking something obvious !!!

Shimmyhill · 18 Apr 2006 at 19:39

I have the wasia firmware so i can use FEC and i did drop it by 2.

Shimmyhill · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:07

morgan said:
First of all you have a setting on your camera, probably under custom functions, of high speed sync speed. The option will be 1/200 or auto - ensure this is set to auto. If this is set to 1/200 it will set the shutter speed to always be 1/200.

Right this bit is mega helpful, i do have the setting under custom and it was set to auto. However it was always at 1/200 - and thus blown out images.

Now i assume that as i wanted f2.8 the onboard flash can not do it, will pick up the 550ex tomms and have another play.

Thanks to all who have replied its all brilliant info

Shimmyhill · 18 Apr 2006 at 22:14

Also just realised that i made idiots mistake number 1 - yes i had left the camera on iso 400 - no wonder it wouldnt work properly.

Im learning lots but i feel a little better now i realise i made a stupid mistake !!

Reading time ready for play time tomms.

Shimmyhill · 22 Apr 2006 at 16:49

Right i have the 550EX now and its awesome, how did i live without it ??

However, im still having issued with fill in flash in sunlight @ F2.8 - as soon as im in AV mode and select F2.8 and prefocus i get the flashing 200 on the screen. I have high speed sync set to auto in the custom menu. If i move to f4 its fine but anything lower and its flashy 200 on the screen.

Is this a limitation of the 300d ? or am i still doing something wrong ?

Shimmyhill · 22 Apr 2006 at 16:56

Maybe ive found the answer !

If im using f2.8 and its sunny do i need to set the flash to high speed sync, im thinking i do now.

(cant try as im downloading images via usb 1 - i think it will be done sometime next tuesday

)

Shimmyhill · 22 Apr 2006 at 18:34

SDK^ said:
The max flash sync on the 300D is 1/200.
Use High speed Sync on the 550EX to enable a faster shutter speed.

:: EDIT ::
^^ You answered your own question

Gojira said:
Daft question - if you set the aperture to f2.8 with the flash OFF, what shutter speed does it set? It may just be too bright for f2.8 and a shutter speed that slow.

<edit> looks like you've solved it while I snuck off for a Coke mid-post </edit>

Alan Woodford

Cheers guys, i did work it out and it works fine

Lots and lots to learn but its all fun and the results are great.

Shimmyhill · 23 Apr 2006 at 17:32

Well im having more joy with the flash now, its awesome but at the same time hard to get to grips with.

Here is a shot im quite happy with - would be better if my daughter could keep her hair tidy for more then 2 mins.

Shimmyhill · 23 Apr 2006 at 21:40

Not an answer but a question.

Can i ask why you shoot in sRGB ? (genuine question, i always found it oversaturated and gave less editing scope than Adobe RGB)